Sicklethorn (Asparagus falcatus)

Also known as: large forest asparagus

Sicklethorn is a thorny, climbing asparagus weed with white flowers and red berries. It forms dense infestations that smother and kill other plants including native vegetation.

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How does this weed affect you?

Sicklethorn can form very large infestations that: 

• can smother other plants including trees up to 6 m tall
• form a dense root mat that outcompetes native plants
• can restrict the movement of people, animals and vehicles
• has sharp spines that can injure people or animals.

What does it look like?

Sicklethorn is a robust woody climber that grows over other plants. Foliage is present year-round with most growth occurring from autumn to spring.

Leaf-like cladodes

Asparagus plants have modified stems called cladodes that look like leaves. The cladodes are:

• dark green
• 3–9 cm long and up to 7 mm wide
• shiny and hairless
• usually slightly curved and sickle-shaped, occasionally straight
• in clusters of 3–6 at the nodes
• present year-round.

Flowers are:

• white with 6 petals (2.5–3.5 mm long)
• on short stalks
• fragrant
• in elongated clusters 1.5 – 3 cm long
• present from spring to early summer.

Fruit are:

• round berries with 1–3 seeds
• bright red when mature
• 7–10 mm in diameter
• mostly produced from summer to autumn, though sometimes present year round.

Spines are:

• thick with broad bases
• hooked backwards along the stems
• up to 3 cm long.

Stems:

• are light grey and woody with age
• are up to 6 m long
• grow from the crown.

Roots are:

• fibrous with swollen tubers
• attached to short rhizomes that form a crown that can be over 30 cm in diameter.

Similar looking plants

Sicklethorn looks similar to some other asparagus plants in Australia but has much longer cladodes.

The native plant, scrambling lily (Geitonoplesium cymosum) looks similar to sicklethorn. Its leaves are variable in shape and size (2–10 cm long and 3–25 mm wide) but are not sickle shaped. Flowers are larger and may be mauve. Fruit are black when ripe and often larger up to 2 cm in diameter.

Where is it found?

In NSW, most plants have been found in the North Coast and Greater Sydney regions. A few infestations have also been found in the Hunter region.  

Sicklethorn is native to western, eastern and southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Sri Lanka, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. It was brought to Australia as an ornamental plant.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Sicklethorn grows best in moist, semi-shaded conditions in subtropical regions. It grows in riparian areas, wet sclerophyll forest, swamp oak, and subtropical rainforests. It is common near residential areas and could invade a wide range of coastal plant communities in NSW.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Sicklethorn during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seed

Birds and animals eat the fruit and spread the seed. Seed can also spread in water and by people dumping garden waste. Seedlings germinate in autumn and early winter in locations with full sun to dense shade.

By plant parts

Sicklethorn can regrow from parts of the crown. Most long-distance spread via plant parts is from people dumping garden waste.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Sicklethorn prefers moist, semi-shaded conditions in sub-tropical regions.

Seed can germinate in conditions from full sun to greater than 80% canopy closure.

It is common near human habitation and is primarily found in riparian habitats, wet sclerophyll forest, swamp oak and subtropical rainforest communities. 

References

Brisbane City Council Weed Identification Tool: Sicklethorn (Asparagus falcatus). http://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/sicklethorn-asparagus-falcatus 

Brown BM (2008) Asparagus falcatus. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/asparagusfal.htm  

Office of Environment and Heritage (2013) Asparagus weeds management manual: current management and control options for asparagus weeds (Asparagus spp.) in Australia. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney. 

Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW) Plant Database (2014) Asparagus falcatus. http://www.plantdatabase.co.uk/Asparagus_falcatus 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (2011). Sicklethorn - Asparagus falcatus, Queensland Government. Available at: . http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Asparagus_falcatus.htm  

More information

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Control

Physical removal

Hand pulling

Small plants can be hand pulled however ensure all the crown is removed.

Crowning

Crowning is a technique of digging out the entire crown that sits just below the surface of the soil. The roots and tubers are left in the soil. This helps prevent excessive soil disturbance in sensitive areas, particularly coastal dune environments. Remove stems and foliage to get access to the crown. Use a sharp knife or trowel to cut all of the roots around the crown just below the surface. Lever the crown out of the ground and dispose of it. Any small segment of the crown that is left behind can regrow.

Disposal

When dry, the crown and any fruiting stems can be incinerated. Ask your local council for alternative disposal methods.

Chemical control

Cut stump

This method can be applied to the crown or the stems.

• Cut all the stems horizontally at the base where they meet the rhizomes (crown). Apply the herbicide across the cut surface of the rhizomes.
• Cut all the stems close to the ground and apply the herbicide to the cut surface of all the stems.

Spot spraying

Spot spray actively growing plants. Ensure all of the foliage is covered. Take care to avoid off-target damage. 

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 20 mL per 1 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate in 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump /scrape stem application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 1 - 2g in 10 L of water, plus a non-ionic surfactant
Comments: Spot spray application
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Rhizome application: prune the shoots to get access to the rhizome apply a 3-5 mm layer of gel across the cut surface on the rhizome. See label for further critical comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Greater Sydney Central Coast Council is classified as the core infestation area. An exclusion zone is established for the rest of the region.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation area: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
South East	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025